News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 March 2000, 20:26 GMT]
Two policemen, including an officer, were wounded in a grenade attack in Trincomalee, SLA search operation in Vavuniya, EPDP member flees party in Jaffna.

Police wounded in grenade attack

A sub Inspector and a constable attached to Uppuveli Police station were wounded in a LTTE grenade attack at Anpuvallipuram, 2 km. west of Trincomalee on the Kandy road at around 6 p.m. this evening.

Two Liberation Tigers were killed in ensuing police retaliatory fire, security sources said.

The police unit was sent to the area following a tip- off that LTTE members were active there. The police group was attacked with grenades, the sources said.

The incident took place close to the 'Pillaiyar' Temple in Anpuvallipuram, security forces said.

Tension prevailed in Anpuvallipuram after the grenade attack. The entire area was cordoned off and searched by the security forces, police said.

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SLA search operation in Vavuniya

Sri Lanka Army troops cordoned off and conducted a house to house search in Vavuniya and its suburbs of Kurumankadhu, Paddanichoor, Vairavapuliyankulam today.

Young men and women were herded into the grounds of Vavuniya Town Council where they were questioned. The troops checked their identity papers, and residential pass, said sources.

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EPDP member flees party

A member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) today fled from the group's camp in Kayts, an island about 10 km. west of Jaffna, and surrendered to the representative of the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna, HRC sources said.

Mr N. Jeeveswara, HRC's representative in Jaffna, handed over the nineteen-year-old youth, Ratnavadivelu Suthaharan, to the police.

Suthaharan of Eechchmoddai was later produced before acting Jaffna Magistrate M. Thirunavukkarasu, who remanded the youth in custody until March 15.